Lewiston, Minn. — Driven by federal budget cuts, groups next week will close three dozen of the state’s 502 congregate meal sites. Most of those closing are in Greater Minnesota. The Southeast Minnesota Community Action Agency will shut four of its 57 dining sites on Tuesday, including lunch in Lewiston.

Agencies and individual providers have made alternative arrangements for seniors, including converting many to home-delivered meals, said Jean Wood, executive director of the Minnesota Board on Aging.

Eyota, Minn. — The same-sex marriage debate has deeply divided parts of the state, including Olmsted County in southeastern Minnesota.

In November, voters there were evenly split on a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would have defined marriage as between one man and one woman: 49 percent supported the amendment and 49.6 percent opposed it.

The divisive vote on same-sex marriage now could be an indicator of how some parts of the state are changing politically.

Rochester, Minn. — Next, we’ll travel to the state’s fastest growing city: Rochester. The rise of Rochester should be no surprise– city leaders have spent years planning how and where to grow this medical and tech-driven community in the middle of farm country.

Now, Rochester’s flagship employer, the Mayo Clinic, is asking for the state’s help to pay for roads, bridges and sewers as it becomes an even bigger global medical hub.

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Meet Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a writer, radio producer and storyteller with the goal of finding and telling remarkable stories.
She got her start in journalism working at The Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Her work has also been published in dozens of other newspapers and websites.